drarnoldlgoldman

It is highly unlikely the squirrel in question could survive electrocution, even if veterinary attention was immediately available thereafter. What is very likely, and from the look and distribution of the skin lesions, very probable, is that poor Zoggy has sarcoptic mange, aka "scabies", a contagious parasitic skin disease that leads to fur loss and skin lesions. He may also have a compromised immune system which allowed it to get that bad in the first place. Arnold L. Goldman DVM

A simple morgue policy of following HIPAA privacy rules, even at the pathologists laboratory, could have avoided the emotional pain for the family and the big damages payment by the city. The jars would have been coded by a number and no name would have been visible to tourgroups. How unprofessional that the samples were kept this way. As pathologists are also MDs it would seem logical they would follow HIPAA standards of privacy. They will now!

To those criticizing the size or collection quality of the SI Zoo, consider the size of our community and compare to similar sized communities and their zoos. SI Zoo should not be compared to giant urban zoos but to those in similar sized communities. In that light, it is an outstanding treasure that has provided a family destination here in SI for generations. Let's compare apples to apples please...

It is best that science rather than anecdote or emotion inform nutritional decisions for ones pets. As a veterinarian I can say that rarely do we see gross nutritional deficiency in our client's pets, which routinely live long lives today. What we do see, is a great deal of obesity. That said, it is certainly worthwhile to seek and feed a quality pet food.

Unfortunately the biggest determinate of what people choose to feed their animals is the HUMAN appeal created by the marketing departments of all manufacturers. Despite this, good marketing does not necessarily make a pet food poor quality. Just don't make the mistake of thinking you are not influenced by that marketing.

In judging whether a company is likely to produce a quality product, find out whether they have a veterinary nutritionist on staff. That is, a veterinarian (degree is DVM, VMD or MRCVS) who is also board-certified in veterinary nutrition. This latter credential is "Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition." Such a person on staff signals a commitment to informed nutritional research in developing the products they manufacture. One of the most famous is Dr. Rebecca Remillard. Learn about her here: http://www.petdiets.com/about/aboutfounder.asp

The web sites mentioned previously either do not involve a veterinarian at all (the dogfoodadvisor.com is written by a human dentist) or do not involve a veterinarian with any special expertise in veterinary nutrition (catinfo.org is written by a general practitioner).

In MY day, we also had bullying by both female and male perpetrators on both female and male victims, often black on white but also the reverse, and it occurred amid the climate of the civil rights movement. Often it was ignored or excused. Sometimes the victim was said to have encouraged it.

I was bullied as a 7th grader and eventually pushed through a door window and maimed. Weak parenting, no fathers at home, tribal mentality, liberal teachers and school administrators, no safety glass, immaturity, poor supervision, limited disciplinary capability and budget, take your pick. That was 1969. Is it really worse today? Or do we just hear more about it and are more aware of the harm it does?

In contrast, one could look at Mr. Grimm's efforts as striving to avoid the appearance of patronage, by allowing others to give input on a decision that is by law, his alone to make. If he made the decisions independently, as is his right, the criticsim of patronage could still be leveled, but less forcefully. If you don't like the manner in which young people are selected for the military academies, then lobby Mr. Grimm to change the system. There is no reason to criticize him for this initiative. It's admirable.

My mother's father, "saw the writing on the wall" in Poland of 1925, so the story goes, and emigrated to the Bronx that year. My late mother Lillian, born that year, never met her father until 1930, the year he finally was able to bring his family here. My grandfather left behind his own grandparents, parents and many other relations, as did my grandmother when they fled Europe for safer shores. Some of their siblings also escaped: to Argentina, to Canada and here but many other relatives, especially the elderly stayed behind and were lost to history and memory. Thank you for sharing your story. There are so many other stories that can never be known. It's a blessing that some can be.